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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-19-2005 02:56 PM

ap72

I just use the regular parts washing stuff that comes in the big metal bucket with a green lid- it works, and that's all I care about. However, if you're in a pinch, I've also used diesel fuel as a solvent, yea its bad for you but a lot of the stuff I do is. It works great and its as close as your local gas station.

10-19-2005 12:54 PM

JR66Ford

Laquer thinner doesn't work in parts washers. I wanted to use a 5 gallon parts washer as a paint gun cleaner. Put just a small amount of thinner in and watched my plastic pump melt down. Not pretty.

long addresses but the first one is a citrus cleaner the second is not citrus based but us biodegradable. Being that they mix with water I am sure they will freeze.

12-09-2003 11:56 AM

wydopnthrtl

Where do you purchase these citris cleaners and will it freeze?

Rich

12-09-2003 09:26 AM

RJL

mineral spirits, kerosene, and paint thinner are NOT FLAMMABLE. They are combustibles. You can drop a lit match into a bucket of kero and it will put the match out. But soak a rag in it and put a lit match to it and you will get a nice fire. Now lacquer thinner, gasoline etc is flammable meaning they don't need a carrier(wood,cloth,paper) to ignite. The vapor that these liquids puts off is what burns which is what makes them more dangerous. I would not use mineral spirits as a cleaning solvent in a parts washer. It is not to healthy to breath and you must be careful to properly store your dry off rags. The new citrus cleaners are biodegradable, work well,and are safer.
*bonus*...When you are done you smell like an orchard nor a refinery

12-09-2003 08:46 AM

MI2600

Interesting. I've always used kerosene to clean parts, but w/o the parts washer. I've got a new parts washer in the basement, unused, because I don't have enough floor space left in the garage. Would there be a problem in using kerosene?

12-08-2003 11:20 PM

Sandflea427SS

Kerosene

12-08-2003 10:07 PM

BstMech

Quote:

Originally posted by drlindz I have had good success with a product called "Citra-Clean".

It takes a little longer to do its job, but it is bio-degradable and smells nice.

I like the sound of that, just clean yourself up in the parts washer and splash a little on yourself and you'll be ready to hit the bar on friday night after work.

12-08-2003 09:53 PM

drlindz

Quote:

Originally posted by 4 Jaw Chuck Varsol is the accepted standard and safe enough to use in-frequently, always wear your gloves and eye protection.

Has anyone used those citrus based solutions in a parts washer? How well does it work?

I have had good success with a product called "Citra-Clean".

It takes a little longer to do its job, but it is bio-degradable and smells nice.

12-08-2003 09:48 PM

NAIRB

DOESN'T BELONG IN THE ENGINE SECTION

This is a legitimate post, and interesting, but it's in the wrong area of the board. We need to pay attention to where we post. If it's electrical, there is a place for that and a general area for other non-specific topics.

12-08-2003 09:13 PM

BstMech

When I bought my parts washer I went to Lowe's and bought mineral spirits. It cost ten bucks for five gallons and I got by with ten gallons in a twenty gallon washer. That sure beat spending thirty dollars for five gallons of the recommended solvent.

I've been using it like that for three years and NO problems with flammability or evaporation. Granted, it's evaporated a little and it's about time to add another five gallons (only about a gallon evaporated, but the pump is starting to draw air). It also cleans really well and I can only smell it when the lid is open on the parts washer.

On a side note, if I had put a full twenty gallons of the recommended solvent in there, I would have had more money in solvent than I had in the washer itself.

12-08-2003 07:40 PM

badknuckles

works fine as parts washer i dont know what you would do with your parts washer that it would catch on fire i genarally clean parts

12-08-2003 06:45 PM

crazy larry

mineral spirits was the recommended solvent for my cleaner. damn ebay crap. its what i use, we tested it for flammability, and were unsuccessful..... that was last august....

12-08-2003 05:11 PM

TurboS10

Just wanted to ditto above. You are asking for a catastropy using either as washer fluid.

Chris

12-08-2003 04:57 PM

astroracer

PLEASE! Do not use paint thinners or Mineral Spirits in your parts washers! MUCH to flammable! Use the washer recommended cleaning fluid ONLY!
I've used Varsol and a friend of mine is using one of the citrus based cleaners. I really see no difference in performance from one to the other. And will probably try one the next time I need cleaning solution.
Mark

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